A recent report by Ookla reveals that Apple’s first custom-designed 5G modem, dubbed the C1, outperforms Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X71 in specific scenarios. The study pitted the iPhone 16e (featuring the C1 modem) against the iPhone 16 (equipped with the X71) across major US carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
**Performance in Varying Network Conditions**
When network speeds were at their lowest (10th percentile of tests), the iPhone 16e demonstrated a significant advantage, clocking in at 27.35Mbps compared to the iPhone 16’s 16.66Mbps. The 16e also held a slight edge in median speed tests. However, when network conditions were optimal (90th percentile), the Qualcomm-powered iPhone 16 exhibited higher peak speeds. Breaking it down by carrier, the 16e consistently showed stronger performance in areas with weaker signals, while the iPhone 16 thrived where connections were robust.
**T-Mobile, Carrier Aggregation, and Upload Speeds**
T-Mobile users experienced the highest downlink speeds on both devices. Interestingly, iPhone 16e users on T-Mobile generally saw slower download speeds than iPhone 16 users. Ookla suggests this is due to T-Mobile’s use of 5G StandAlone (SA) networks and carrier aggregation (CA).
The C1 modem supports three-link CA, while the X71 frequently utilizes four-link CA and also supports uplink CA. Despite this, the 16e surprisingly delivered *better* upload speeds than the iPhone 16 across all three carriers tested.
**mmWave, Battery Life, and Modem Age**
The iPhone 16e currently doesn’t support mmWave 5G, but reports suggest Apple is working on a mmWave-capable version of the C1. However, since mmWave coverage is still limited in many areas, this omission hasn’t significantly impacted overall performance. Apple claims the C1 is its most power-efficient 5G modem to date, and the iPhone 16e boasts an official rating of 21 hours of video streaming, compared to the iPhone 16’s 18 hours. This improved battery life is also partly due to a larger 4,005 mAh battery in the 16e, versus the 3,561 mAh battery in the 16. It is worth to mention, Qualcomm’s X71, launched in 2022, is a previous-generation modem.
**Beyond the Modem: Other Performance Factors**
Ookla’s report concludes with an intriguing note: the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which also uses the X71 modem like the iPhone 16, outperforms the 16e in “most performance metrics.” This suggests that factors beyond the modem itself, such as antenna design and other hardware optimizations, play a crucial role. A more comprehensive comparison of the entire iPhone 16 lineup is anticipated in a future Ookla report.